Bootjack



(No Model J. PENDERGAST- BOOTJAGK.

Patented May 11. 1897.

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UNITED STATES .ATENT rrrcn.

JOHN PENDERGAST, OF NILES, MICHIGAN.

BOOTJAC K.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters TPatent No. 582,484, dated May 11, 1897.

Application filed March 19, 1896. Renewed March 8, 1897. Serial No.626,548. (No model.) I

T0 at whom it may concern Be it known that I, J OHN PENDERGAST, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of Niles, in the county ofBerrien and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Bootjacks; and I do hereby declare that the following isa full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form apart of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in bootjacks for pulling ofi orremoving wool or felt boots or socks. The ordinary bootjacks arepractically useless for pulling ofi this description of boots or socks,as owing to the extreme pliability of the wool or felt of which they arecomposed the crotch in the jack will not afford a sufficient grip toprevent slipping.

The object of my invention is to provide a jack for woolen and othersimilar boots or socks, by which the latter may be easily and readilypulled off or removed from the feet.

The invention consists, essentially, of a bootjack having a semicircularcrotch at one end, provided with a number of teeth or pins, adapted toengage with a boot or sock of the character described and grip the samein a sufficient hold to prevent disengagement or slipping of the boot orsock, as will be hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of abootjack constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional Viewshowing the manner of constructing the pins or teeth.

In the said drawings the reference-numeral 1 designates a plate orblock, of wood, metal, or other suitable material, formed with anapproximately semicircular U or V shaped crotch 2 at the front end andwith a transverse strip 3 in its under side to elevate the front end ofthe plate or board, as usual.

Secured to the walls of the crotch are a number of projecting teeth orpins 4, which engage with the heel of a boot inserted in the very fewmay be employed, if desired, widely inclined or not.

The teeth are made of metal, and they are preferably constructedsomewhat similar to the cards of a carding-machin ethat is to say, Itake short pieces of wire and bend their ends at right angles, formingthe teeth, which are passed through apertures in a leather or otherflexible backing 5, which is secured by screws or other fasteningdevices to the Wall of the crotch. These teeth are arranged very closelytogether, and are bent slightly downward and forward, as abovedescribed. v

The manner of using the device is as follows: The heel of the boot isplaced in the crotch and the leg and foot pulled upward, causing theteeth to engage with the boot and pull the same off. The boot can thenbe disengaged from the crotch by pushing downward, which will release itfrom the teeth.

By placing the teeth very close together they may be made extremelysmall and light, so as not to injure the material of the boot, yet atthe same time, owing to their great number, a firm grip will be given tothe boot.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is 1. As animproved article, a bootjack comprising the plate or block having acrotch at one end provided with a number of projecting teeth;substantially as described.

2. As an improved article, a bootjack comprising a plate or block havinga crotch at one end provided with a number of inclined teeth;substantially as described.

3. As an improved article, a bootjack comprising the plate or blockhaving a crotch at one end, the backing of flexible material securedthereto, provided with a number of teeth, each consisting of a piece ofwire having its ends bent at right angles and passed through aperturesin said backing; substantially as described.

4. As an improved article, a bootjack comprising a plate or block havinga notch at separated from each other, and they may be one end, aflexible backing secured thereto, provided with a number of teeth, eachconsisting of a piece of wire, having the ends bent at right angles andpassed through apertures in said backing and bent or inclined downwardlyand forwardly, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as myown I have hereunto affixedmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN PENDERGAST.

Vitnesses: v

EDWARD F. WooDcooK, \VILLIAM S. SINCLAIR.

